Exodus 32:8
They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Original Language Analysis
מַהֵ֗ר
aside quickly
H4118
מַהֵ֗ר
aside quickly
Strong's:
H4118
Word #:
2 of 22
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙
out of the way
H1870
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙
out of the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
4 of 22
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשׂ֣וּ
them they have made
H6213
עָשׂ֣וּ
them they have made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
7 of 22
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
עֵ֖גֶל
calf
H5695
עֵ֖גֶל
calf
Strong's:
H5695
Word #:
9 of 22
a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e., a steer)
מַסֵּכָ֑ה
them a molten
H4541
מַסֵּכָ֑ה
them a molten
Strong's:
H4541
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, a pouring over, i.e., fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e., league; concretely a coverlet (as if pour
וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ
and have worshipped
H7812
וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ
and have worshipped
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
11 of 22
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
וַיִּזְבְּחוּ
it and have sacrificed
H2076
וַיִּזְבְּחוּ
it and have sacrificed
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
13 of 22
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
These be thy gods
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
These be thy gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
O Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
O Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
18 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
19 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הֶֽעֱל֖וּךָ
which have brought thee up
H5927
הֶֽעֱל֖וּךָ
which have brought thee up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
20 of 22
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Cross References
Exodus 20:23Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.1 Kings 12:28Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.Deuteronomy 9:16And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.Exodus 22:20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.Judges 2:17And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
Historical Context
The irony is acute: God was inscribing 'You shall have no other gods before me' while the people proclaimed the calf their deliverer. This demonstrates humanity's total inability to keep God's law apart from His enabling grace.
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing God's commands make disobedience more culpable?
- What does this teach about the inadequacy of law alone to produce righteousness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The triple emphasis (סָרוּ, saru, turned aside; מַהֵר, maher, quickly; מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ, min-haderek, from the way) stresses both the speed and completeness of their apostasy. God calls it 'the way אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִם (asher tzivvitim, which I commanded them),' emphasizing they knew better—this was willful rebellion. Their worship (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ, vayyishtachavu, bowed down) and sacrifice (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ, vayyizbechu, sacrificed) used proper worship vocabulary for idolatry. The repeated proclamation אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (eleh elohekha, these are your gods) directly violated the first commandment while Moses held the tablets above.